Sustained institutional support from Sports Authority of India and focused training helped teenager Bridney break a nation record in Ranchi recently
Kolkata, Nov. 6: Every champion’s story begins behind a medal. For 16-year-old I. S. Bridney, it is a tale of determination, family sacrifice, a coach’s unwavering faith, and an institutional system that refused to let geographical barriers limit her ambition.
At the 78th senior, 55th junior, and 41st sub-junior national track cycling championships in Ranchi on November 3, 2026, Bridney delivered a milestone performance. Competing in the sub-junior girls’ 500m Individual Time Trial, she stopped the clock at 37.479 seconds—shattering the previous national record of 38.700 seconds held by Asian Cup medalist Trisha Paul.
“I was in good shape during my training under coach Vishwajit Balkrishna Sutar at SAI, Car Nicobar. I was expecting to perform well, but I never thought of the national record. I just tried to perform at my best,” Bridney told SAI Media.
Bridney hails from Kinyuka village in Car Nicobar. Her mother, Junia, is a homemaker, and her father, Ruther, earns a modest living through coconut farming and copra sales. Despite their limited means, her parents fully backed her athletic pursuits. Initially focused on football and sprinting, Bridney’s trajectory changed during selection trials in November 2022. Coach Vishwajit Balkrishna Sutar identified her raw potential and introduced her to cycling. She was inducted into the SAI Training Centre (STC) Car Nicobar in 2023.
Lacking a local velodrome and competition-standard gear at STC Car Nicobar, Sutar took personal initiative to source high-grade equipment through former trainees in Thiruvananthapuram and Kolhapur. Her progression followed rapidly with consecutive podium finishes, including gold at the 2024–25 National Track Cycling Championship in Chennai, gold in the Team Sprint at the School Nationals in Ranchi, and silver at the 2025–26 Nationals in Rudrapur.
To bridge the infrastructural divide, SAI NCOE Kolkata stepped in with financial, administrative, and technical backing, facilitating specialized training camps in Thiruvananthapuram and Ranchi along with structured nutritional guidance. Approximately three months ago, Bridney was inducted into the SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. She now trains under foreign coach Mark Pakker, setting her sights on the Asian Games.
Bridney attributes her foundational success to her initial mentor:
“I would not have reached this stage if my coach (Sutar) had not introduced me to cycling. Without that first opportunity from him, my journey would not have been possible. Whatever I have achieved so far, his contribution has been immense,” she said.
Evaluating her trajectory, Sutar sees no limit to her potential:
“In my personal assessment, Bridney possesses tremendous talent, determination and potential. I strongly believe that with proper training, facilities and continued support, she has the ability to win a medal at the World Championships one day,” he told SAI Media.
